The Case for a Walkable Honolulu

In an opinion piece in Honolulu Civil Beat, Paul Lam calls on the city to amend Bill 7, an ordinance that supports affordable housing construction in Apartment Mixed-Use and Business Mixed-Use zones. Along with supporting next-generation mobility and enhancing redevelopment incentives, this could “unleash a wave of affordable rentals,” Lam writes.

According to Lam, allowing all new projects to include ground-floor retail could make a significant impact on how the city’s neighborhoods look and feel, improving walkability and making it easier for residents to get around without a car.

As Lam explains, “Redevelopment must be financially appealing to landowners, which means expanding city and state incentives — tax abatements, expedited permitting, infrastructure cost-sharing, and pre-construction grants available not only for fully permitted projects but also for projects ready to break ground under the Special Assignment Inspections process.”

Lam argues that active ground floors create a more vibrant streetscape and “bring light, safety, and vibrancy to neighborhoods, encouraging residents to walk, interact, and engage with one another.” With 95 percent of the Honolulu housing stock over 40 years old, it’s a good time for the city to ensure it builds new, resilient housing.